Footnotes

大理國 約十二世紀 銅漆金觀音像

This elegant figure from the Dali Kingdom depicts Avalokiteshvara of the Moon and Sun, indicated by the two discs held in the bodhisattva's raised hands. Its remaining attributes, which include a seal, a ritual weapon, and a willow branch paired with a bowl, recall many of the attributes typically held by the Thousand-armed form of Avalokiteshvara, first appearing as early as the Tang dynasty (for reference, see a painting from Dunhuang, dated between the late 9th and early 10th centuries and now in the British Museum, 1919,0101,0.35).

Attesting to this exceptionally rare iconography of the six-armed form of Avalokiteshvara are two other known sculptures: a large stone statue from the Dazu Cave Grottoes in Sichuan, dated between 1142 and 1148 to the Southern Song dynasty (1127-79, see Dazu Shiku, 1984, pl. 34), and a small silver six-armed figure sharing identical attributes from the neighboring Kingdom of Dali in Yunnan (937-1253, published in, Yunnan Provincial Museum, 1991, p. 199, no. 14). Based on their geographical proximity to one another, it is likely that this unique form of Avalokiteshvara enjoyed worship within these adjacent territories around the 12th century. That being said, its attribution to the Dali Kingdom (937-1253) is more probable, as this gilt bronze's three-headed form signals a tradition separate from the single-faced statue at Dazu. Furthermore, its subsidiary faces, which are wrathfully depicted with hair standing on ends, furrowed brows, and flat, bulbous noses, closely relate in style to a large Mahakala figure sold at Bonhams, Hong Kong, 3 October 2017, lot 10 as well as an enraged demon subdued by a fierce guardian in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2001.77, published in Leidy, ed.,Wisdom Embodied: Chinese Buddhist and Daoist Sculpture in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2010, p. 134-5, no. 31).

Further stylistic parallels to Yunnanese images include the present work's peaceful, feminine features and roundel medallion necklace, bearing close similarity to a bodhisattva illustrated in the Bhaisajyaguru Assembly section of the Dali Kingdom Buddhist Scroll (attributed to Zhang Shengwen, c. 1163-89, published in Chapin, A Long Roll of Buddhist Images, 1970, pl. 28 & 29). Moreover, its scarf and central medallion, which are shared with the present lot, are also similar to a Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara with a closely-shaped crown, slender limbs, and physiognomy in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (556.23, published in Leidy, ed., 2010, p. 138-140, no. 33). Based on this analysis, the following work's juxtaposition of both wrathful and peaceful depictions into one single deity stands as a rare testament to the artistic and esoteric traditions within the Dali Kingdom.

Provenance:
Acquired by Mr. Jean Alazard, military and police officer in French Indochina in 1956
Thence by descent